What is the Sound of One hand clapping?

[Awaiting_the_fifth]

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

I've never liked that one, maybe I just dont understand it. The definition of clapping hands is surely for two (or more?) hands to come together at speed, so I would argue that one hand simply cannot clap.

I much prefer this one:

If a tree falls in a forest and there is no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Awaiting_the_fifth

I much prefer this one:

If a tree falls in a forest and there is no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Yes...something like "awwwwww, (sh*t) ! I hate when that happens..."

[jiii]

Well, the sound of two hands clapping jumps spontaneously from two hands coming together. In a certain way, this is 'something' coming from 'nothing'. Alan Watts once said," I think 'nothing' gets a bad rap these days." Indeed, in our hyperactive culture 'nothing' is certainly looked down upon. But the sound of one hand clapping is the sound of spontaneous potential, the interconnectedness of 'something and nothing'...the 'sound of no-sound' (to get into more Taoist ways of speaking). It's the same as trying to see your own eye or taste you own tongue. It's quite the strange paradox.

I had read that koan first in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, which I think was mentioned on a previous posting. I didn't get it at all until I started comparing it to other examples of similar mystery from life. I considered the way that Buddhism and Taoism have a tendency of suggesting that there is no death, and I wondered whether or not a persons lack of a noticeable physical manifestation after death, despite the claim that there is no death, might be along similar lines as 'the sound of one hand clapping'.

A cool way to look at it is this (why not be cool?...this stuff is fun):

Ever listen to a song where there is a few moments of dramatic silence between, say, a verse and a chorus? We usually would say that 'the song stops here briefly and it sounds really dramatic when it comes back in'. But really, the steps of silence and sound in music ARE the music. The spirit of the 'one-hand clapping' koan, I think, suggests that maybe silence is music too...that the dramatic silence is just as much the band playing skillfully as the crashing chorus that follows. (Forgive me, I think alot ;-)

The sound of one-hand clapping is the sound of your ears hearing and the sight of your eyes seeing. Heh, I could try to wrap my head around that one all day :-)

[Vajradhara]

Namaste all...


something which should probably be said concerning the nature of Koans.

the reason why particular ones are recorded is due to the experience of a particular being Awakening through that aspect of contemplation. as such, what needs to be understood is that not all Koans are appropos for all beings.

Buddhist teachings are not really designed to establish a doctrine, though that certainly exists, they are really designed to inculcate experience.

metta,

~v

[_Z_]

Jiii, hello.



The sound of one-hand clapping is the sound of your ears hearing and the sight of your eyes seeing. Heh, I could try to wrap my head around that one all day.



I think I actually know what you mean, very interesting point! Esp. about death. I like Buddhism ever since I read ‘the clear light of bliss’ by gesha kelsang gyatso, [a great and in depth read], even though I am a druid I base my beliefs largely on Buddhism and the Tao [amongst others], if we can get past the doctrine of any philosophy/religion there is much to be learned – nice post.



Z

[Vajradhara]

Namaste all...


some relevant links from prior discussions:

Zen koans, anyone?

Zen Death Poetry

metta,

~v

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by Vajradhara

Namaste all...


some relevant links from prior discussions:

Zen koans, anyone?

Zen Death Poetry

metta,

~v

Thank you for the links, Vaj. Fun reading.
I really have fun with Zen, and don't hold to a rigid view regarding it. {But what would you expect from someone on the Pacific Rim, where when you look toward the east, you see "The West," and when you look towards the west, you see "The East?"}

[Vajradhara]

Originally Posted by seattlegal

Thank you for the links, Vaj. Fun reading.
I really have fun with Zen, and don't hold to a rigid view regarding it. {But what would you expect from someone on the Pacific Rim, where when you look toward the east, you see "The West," and when you look towards the west, you see "The East?"}

LOL... indeed... when i look north, i see south and when i look south i see north. funny how that works on a sphere, eh?



metta,

~v

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by Vajradhara

LOL... indeed... when i look north, i see south and when i look south i see north. funny how that works on a sphere, eh?



metta,

~v

LOL, well, I guess I've just learned your answer to:

Relatively Absolutionist, or Absolutely Relativistic?

{Either that, or it could mean that you're "over the hill," and I'm "around the bend."}

[Vajradhara]

Originally Posted by seattlegal

LOL, well, I guess I've just learned your answer to:


{Either that, or it could mean that you're "over the hill," and I'm "around the bend."}

HAHAHA i think i've a t-shirt somewhere related to my being "over the hill"

[wil]

The boys in my son's scout troop clap with one hand all the time. It is like a cliche thing amongst them, everyone must learn. They can do it as rapidly as a two hand clap, and quite loud too.

Anyone played Zendo? Kids create Koans and learn to mondo...

[Vajradhara]

Namaste all,

and, of course, deaf people in the United States clap without touching either hand together!



metta,

~v

[Snoopy]

It is now the sound of a cliche.

s.

[chakraman]

What is the Sound of One hand clapping?

the soundless sound

[Gatekeeper]

Call me dim witted, but I don't think I get it. It seems pointless to even attempt to clap with one hand, not to mention the fact that it would more than likely make you look like an idiot. It takes two hands to make clapping mean anything. Without two hands a clap would not - could not exist. It's the same as yin yang - right left - good evil - wise unwise, heat cold - dark light ... [imo]

My answer is that it sounds like [nothing] A clap is not a clap w/o a counter part to make it fruitful.